Job outlook for payroll administrators in the United States

Payroll administrator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

The projected payroll administrator job growth rate is -3% from 2018-2028.
About -38,500 new jobs for payroll administrators are projected over the next decade.
Payroll administrator salaries have increased 11% for payroll administrators in the last 5 years.
There are over 143,470 payroll administrators currently employed in the United States.
There are 55,490 active payroll administrator job openings in the US.
The average payroll administrator salary is $46,596.

Are payroll administrator jobs in demand?

Yes, payroll administrator jobs are in demand. Payroll administrator demand is projected to grow -3% from 2018 to 2028.

Payroll administrator job and salary trends over time

Compare the number of payroll administrator jobs and the average payroll administrator salary over time.

Payroll administrator jobs over time

Payroll administrator job growth rate over time

Year	# of jobs	% of population
2021	143,470	0.04%
2020	129,085	0.04%
2019	137,512	0.04%
2018	138,744	0.04%
2017	147,102	0.04%

Average payroll administrator salary over time

Payroll administrator salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2025	$46,596	$22.40	+1.8%
2024	$45,763	$22.00	+2.5%
2023	$44,643	$21.46	+2.6%
2022	$43,494	$20.91	+3.5%
2021	$42,007	$20.20	+3.4%

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Payroll administrator jobs by state

The map below shows you the number of payroll administrator job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where payroll administrators earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average salary: Job openings:

Most common states for payroll administrators

Rank	State	Population	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl
1	Massachusetts	6,859,819	1,157	17%
2	Colorado	5,607,154	933	17%
3	Alaska	739,795	122	16%
4	Vermont	623,657	97	16%
5	Utah	3,101,833	463	15%
6	New Hampshire	1,342,795	203	15%
7	Montana	1,050,493	159	15%
8	North Dakota	755,393	117	15%
9	Oregon	4,142,776	584	14%
10	Nebraska	1,920,076	268	14%
11	Minnesota	5,576,606	749	13%
12	Rhode Island	1,059,639	137	13%
13	Delaware	961,939	126	13%
14	Washington	7,405,743	864	12%
15	Arizona	7,016,270	858	12%
16	District of Columbia	693,972	85	12%
17	New Mexico	2,088,070	236	11%
18	Idaho	1,716,943	187	11%
19	Connecticut	3,588,184	365	10%
20	Wyoming	579,315	57	10%

Most common cities for payroll administrators

Rank	City	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl	Avg. salary
1	Annapolis	5	13%	$54,598
2	Hartford	6	5%	$57,602
3	Lansing	5	4%	$46,408
4	Atlanta	13	3%	$47,340
5	Little Rock	6	3%	$42,187
6	Fort Lauderdale	5	3%	$40,091
7	Washington	11	2%	$70,954
8	Newark	7	2%	$54,425
9	Des Moines	5	2%	$43,489
10	Montgomery	5	2%	$36,944
11	San Diego	8	1%	$54,822
12	Boston	6	1%	$55,323
13	Indianapolis	6	1%	$38,815
14	Denver	5	1%	$49,264
15	San Francisco	5	1%	$58,928
16	Chicago	7	0%	$51,476
17	Los Angeles	7	0%	$55,800
18	Phoenix	7	0%	$47,115
19	New York	6	0%	$59,380

Payroll Administrator job outlook: Expert opinions

We spoke to payroll administrator professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the payroll administrator job market for recent graduates is heading and how young graduates entering the payroll administrator industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.

Our panel of payroll administrator experts

Dr. Joseph Oluwole

Janice Garnett Ed.D.

University of Nebraska - Omaha

Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy

Tarleton State University

Dr. Anna Frank

DePaul University

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Dr. Joseph Oluwole

Department Chair and Full Professor

Website

What will help Payroll Administrators increase their earning potential?

Dr. Joseph Oluwole: My general advice is to seek out administrator and professor mentors who can provide a sounding board and encouragement through the emotional roller coaster that administration can be. I cannot overstate the importance of supportive mentors to the success of a new graduate beginning as an administrator. Even the State of New Jersey, for instance, recognizes the importance of mentoring and created a formal program for new assistant principals and principals to seek support from experienced mentors under the state's New Jersey Leaders to Leaders (NJL2L) program.

Janice Garnett Ed.D.

Senior Lecturer

University of Nebraska - Omaha

Educational Administration And Supervision

Website

What Payroll Administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Janice Garnett Ed.D.: New leaders must balance their vision with the realities and priorities of the school and/or school district. In other words, begin by developing an entry plan to learn and understand existing budget(s), staffing, community, and other priority needs of the school and/or district. Include in the plan how you will focus on relationships to build trust and rapport with all stakeholders. A communication plan with transparent messages and ample active listening will be key. The educational landscape constantly evolves, calling for continuous learning through professional development, networking, and mentorship.

Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy

Assistant Professor

Tarleton State University

Public Administration

What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Payroll Administrator job market given the pandemic?

Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy: I think one of the most significant changes to the job market is how the pandemic forced employers to do business virtually if they wanted to do business at all. For non-essential businesses, they had to find a way for employees to work at home if they wanted employees to keep working. This means that jobs that were originally considered location-bound were found to be done remotely, some with little to no modifications.

What this means is that some employers have reconsidered the costs of maintaining physical office space for workers that could telecommute and would rather work at home. Instead of paying rent and utilities for all employees to work in cubicles, they could export those costs to the employee using the spare bedroom they pay for, and home internet, phone, power, the water they pay for themselves. This cost-saving epiphany could affect employers and jobseekers alike in several ways. If a job can be done from anywhere, it means that those who are interested in a job can apply regardless of where they live.

This means a wider pool of talent for employers to choose from instead of just those willing to live within commuting distance. It also means more potential opportunities for jobseekers that might not be willing or able to relocate. But there is a downside, and that is that it increases competition for available jobs. The labor pool is no longer limited to those with skills and experience in a metro area, so those seeking a job are no longer just up against other locals anymore. This means those on the job market might have a more difficult job finding ways to set themselves apart. I think it means more opportunities, potentially, but greater challenges getting hired and a need to find ways to make themselves more marketable than they may have needed to be when labor pools were shallower.

Dr. Anna Frank

Exercise Science

DePaul University

Department of Teacher Education

Website

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Payroll Administrators to find work opportunities?

Dr. Anna Frank: This was on ZipRecruiter-outdoor jobs.
Try the Top Five
If location isn't a factor in your outdoor job search, then consider heading to one of the top five states who offer the most employment opportunities to be had under the sun (and stars). Those are:
1. California
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. New York
5. North Carolina

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Updated July 24, 2024

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